Autopneumatic music-playing instrument.



PATENTED 00129. 1907.

w. A. WATSON. AUTOPNEUMATIG MUSIC PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION nLnnlun. 21, 1907.

v W ummy UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

-: WILLIAM A. WATSON,.OF MEnFoRn, MAS ACHUSETTS, ASSIoNr a T0 EMERSON PIANO COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOPNEUMATIC MUSIC-PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of I 'tters Patent.

x'atented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application and mu my. satin No. 363,536-

rnatic music playing instruments, the object of the invention being to provide means ior guaranteeing the alinement ol' the tracker-board openingswith the perforations in themusic record.

-As is well known, music sheets swelland shrink with different atmospheric conditions, and sometimes this swelling and shrinking: occurs to such a degree that it results in the imperfect playing of the instrument. To compensate for this, therefore, I provide the improved alining means.

ln the'accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a dis gra nmatic view of one end of a tracker-board having my invention applied theretoandshowing a portion of a note sheet. Fig. 2 is a plan view on a relatively reduced scale showing both ends-oi the tracker-board and the regulating apparatus.

1 represents a perforated note sheet.

22 rcprwent' twoshift'able of a tracker-board suitably connected at their ends so as to be adjustable relatively to each other to compensate for swelling -and shrinking ofthenote shcet'. These two ends are, of course, in line and are held in suitable guide-ways, so that they may move'toward or away from each other, as the necessities demand.

3 is a governing pneumatic of any .well-knowntype,-

the movable back thereof bein'g normally distended by means otthe spring 4; v i

. 5' is the exhaust incommunication with the mainexhaust oi the instrument, withwhich this appliance is connected. 6 is the regulator valve, controlled in the-usual manner by the movement -ofthe pneumatic.

7 is the fulcrumof the pneumatic back. 8 is a lever arm connected to said back. 7

9 is a link connecting the lever arm8 with the outerpneumatic. If the instrument is in operation, the de- -gre to which the pneumatic is distended depends upon the degree of freedom witlrwhich air passes through said pneumatic. The normal action of the spring-4 is to'open the pneumatic, and the connection of the pneumatic with the tracker end 2 is such as to move it in a direction to push the perforation 11 under the sheet. Should the perforation extend entirely under the sheet 1, the exhaust would tend to collapse the pneumatic" 3', which would, by reason of its connection with the tracker end 2, move the same eutwa'rdlysoas to expose more or less of thepert'oration when beyond th'eedge of the sheet.

The governing apparatus is so adjusted, that the exposure of aslight portion of the opening 11 will relieve the tension in the pneumatic, so that the spring 4 will operate to hold the tracker-board so that only said slight exposure will occur. Under these conditions the perforations 14 will be in correct alinement relatively to the ducts 12 inthe tracker.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the paper swells and shrinks-the governing pneumatic will operate to still preserve the same relative position of the tracker to the perforations-therein, relatively to the sheet and the perforations therein. As shown in Fig. 2, one of these automatic regulating devices is provided at each end of the tracker-board to move the separate sections thereof as required.

What I clairn,is,- 1. In an slatepneumatic music playing instrument, a trnckerbourii' having ducts therein, a perforated note sheet arrnngedto traverse said trucker bodrd, means t-' ureserve the relative allnement ol' the perforations in the Said sheet and tracker board to compensate for the swelling and shrinking or said note sheet, said means including a pneurustic operstlve'ly connected with one end'of the tracker board,. ,a duct in the tracker board adjacent to the margin of the note sheet. an exhaust extending through said pneuunstl and to sold last mentioned duct, and a throttle for sold exhaust controlled by sald pneumatic.

2. J11 an auto-pneumatic music playing instrument, a tracker hoard having ducts thereln, a pertorated note sheet arranged to-trsverse said tracker board, means to preserve the relative allnement-ot the perforations in the said Sheet and tracker board to compensate tor the swelling and shrinking at saldnote sheet, said means including a pneumatic-operltively connected with one end 01 the tracker boards duct in the tracker board adjacent to the margin of the note sheet, an exhaust extending through said pneumxtlc and to said lastlm'entloned duct, and a throttle for said exhaust controlled by. said pneumatic, said note 'sheet partially but never completely closing sold last mentioned duct. 

